Ready to navigate your Android smartphone like never before? Take an Ultra-quick shortcut! A shortcut is an icon that lives on your home screen just like an app. The difference is, shortcuts save you time by accessing specific functions within an app. Think of the ‘Post’ function in Instagram or YouTube’s ‘Search’ feature. We’ll walk you through how to create a shortcut, how to make a shortcut to a website and much more. 

How to create a shortcut on the Android home screen

The long-press is a shortcut fundamental. You can perform a long-press by holding your finger on any app icon. Then, the app’s list of available shortcuts will be revealed. To add an app to your home screen, you can either long-press and drag the app from your app drawer, or long-press and select Add to home. 

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“Note”

These steps may vary by Android make & model. You’ll want to refer to your user manual just in case.

how to add a shortcut for any app with step by step instructions on how: open app, find the app, long press app and click Add to Home
  1. Open your app drawer
  2. Find the app you want to make a shortcut for 
  3. Long-press the app and click Add to home
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“Ultra-Tip”

On some Android devices, you will need to long-press the icon and drag the app to the home screen.

How to use an app to create a shortcut

Whether you need a shortcut for specific app functions or for quick file access, the Shortcut Maker app simplifies the process. With Shortcut Maker you can create custom icons and add text labels to your shortcuts, making them easy to identify on your home screen. This ability is great for prioritizing items that you need convenient access to.  

Shortcut maker app creates shortcuts for: websites, apps, folders, in-app links, contacts, photo galleries, files, split-screen. mode, and collections

The Shortcut Maker App creates shortcuts for: 

  • Websites
  • Apps
  • Folders
  • In-app links
  • Contacts
  • Photo galleries
  • Files
  • Split-screen mode
  • Collections
how to create a shortcut to a website: open google chrome on website, tap the ellipsis icon, add to home, customize name, add to home screen

How to create a shortcut to a website

If your favorite website doesn’t have a mobile app, you can create your own shortcut! Once you have a customized shortcut on your home screen, you won’t have to open your web browser and manually search for your most visited webpages anymore. 

  1. Open the Google Chrome web browser and navigate to the website you want to pin to your Home screen
  2. Tap the ellipsis icon in the top-right corner
  3. From the menu, tap Add to Home screen
  4. Customize the name
  5. Tap Add to Home screen

How to delete shortcuts on Android

If you no longer need the convenience of a shortcut, how to delete a shortcut is just as easy as how to add a shortcut. Just long-press the shortcut icon, then press Remove.  

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Let’s review

  • Shortcuts save you time by accessing specific functions within an app
  • You can take shortcuts by long-pressing any app icon on your home screen
  • Shortcut Maker is an app that creates shortcuts for many functions like websites
  • Long-press and select Remove to delete a shortcut from your home screen

Why take a shortcut in the first place? Of course to save time, but shortcuts also make you more knowledgeable about your device. Once you master shortcuts, there will be nothing taking up space on your screen unless you need it to be there. An aesthetic, decluttered home screen will make you feel more at home on a device you use daily. Take a shortcut to wireless savings with Ultra Mobile. With Unlimited Talk & Text to 90+ Countries, Free Wi-Fi Calling & Free Mobile Hotspot on all plans, there’s never been an easier way to stay connected. 

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